World Vision, Vietnam

Bac Binh Community Health Project

The link between poverty and poor health is obvious. There are many ways in
which poverty can lead to ill health, including lack of access to housing, transportation,
education, food and health services. Therefore World Vision seeks to tackle
health issues and ensure the well being of the entire population of Area Development
Programs. On the one hand by changing the way health care services are planned
and delivered to answer to the needs of the communities, on the other hand by
working with and through other sectors, such as economic development, social
support and more equitable distribution of income. Virtually all World Vision
development programs and projects apply a community-based approach, thus empowering
the people for their own development and, so doing, encouraging sustainability.
Bac Binh is one example of a sectoral intervention.

Bac Binh is one of the poorest districts in Binh Thuan Province of Vietnam.
It consists of 17 communes with an estimated population of 110,000 people. 30
percent of the population are ethnic minority groups, mostly living in remote,
mountainous areas. Most ethnic minorities do not have access to government assistance,
education, health care, or social services.

Around 90 percent of the population of this region is involved in agriculture
as their primary source of income. However, poor soil quality, deforestation,
lack of technical knowledge, and inadequate equipment and services make it extremely
difficult for community members to consistently produce high yields. This results
in food shortages for many months of the year. Poor households consume a diet
limited in proteins, fats and vitamins. The principal meal consists of rice,
clear soup and fish sauce. Meat is rarely consumed. Lack of awareness and access
to a balanced and varied diet contributes to the high rate of malnutrition in
the area. The district is also heavily affected by malaria and lacks basic health
services, resulting in high maternal and infant morbidity.

The Bac Binh Community Health project started in 1998 as an expansion of the
Malaria Project implemented from 1995 to 1997. After a mid-term evaluation the
project extended to October 2001 until June 2004 to strengthen existing activities
by providing improved health care services for community members focusing on
women, children, and ethnic minorities.

Construction of latrines and wells improving hygiene and sanitation in project
communes increasing access to safe drinking water and understanding the importance
of good hygiene practices, visible in the 1,200 people who benefited from
81 wells and 80 latrines constructed as part of this project;

Established network of village health volunteers receiving training and
re-training on nutrition, control of diarrhoea diseases and acute respiratory
Infections;

Technical skills training on Integrated Management of Childhood Disease,
First Aid and nutrition program management, capacity development to manage
health issues prevalent in the area;

Revolving drug fund established as an effective mechanism to meet the pressing
demands for drugs by the local people;

Health stations equipped with vital administrative support equipment such
as desks and chairs, using the interest from the revolving drug fund;

Community mobilization and capacity building expanded villagers’ understanding
of the importance of taking care of their health; active participation drove
the project’s success contributing to the projects sustainability;

Community groups included women and ethnic minorities as beneficiaries from
the project, without discrimination.

Mrs Le Thi Hong Phuong is a poor woman who lives in Binh Le Village,
Phan Ri Thanh Commune. She became a member of the community credit program initiated
by World Vision Vietnam’s Bac Binh Community Health Project. With a loan of
VND 1,000,000 (approx. 80 CHF) she started a small business raising chickens.
This has increased her capacity to earn an income and now she has additional
money to take better care of her children. They now receive nutritious food
every day, have an opportunity to go to school and a small fund from which to
address health related needs as they arise. Mrs Phuong was trained on poultry
raising as an income-generating activity. She equally attended workshops on
childhood care which had a direct effect on improving the overall health of
her children. Mrs Phuong is described as a shy woman, who does not like to talk
in front of a crowd. However, the success of her new business brought a new
found sense of confidence. She is now happy to share her personal experience
with other women, and is more likely to insist that health improving initiatives
within her household be a priority. She is now not only a wage earner, but an
advocate for herself and other women.

Having access to clean water became a dream come true for Mr Nhat and
his family with the support of World Vision Vietnam’s Bac Binh Community
Health Project, a well was built. Not only does the well provide clean drinking
water for Mr Nhat and his family but to other member’s of the community as well.
The families no longer have to travel long distances to fetch water and can
use the extra time they now have to work and gain an income. Moreover, this
clean source of water supports health throughout the community as rates of diarrhoea
disease amongst children drop. For Mr Nhat, the water from the well helped him
set up a small pond for fish raising. This business venture provides nutritious
food for his family, thereby contributing to improving the health status of
his children, wife, and extended family. Thanks to the new well, these families
have the opportunity to transform their lives.

Country/region: Vietnam, Binh Thuan Province, Bac Binh District

Duration: October 1998 - June 2004

Swiss Organisation: World Vision Switzerland supports various
community programs in Vietnam. The Bac Binh Community Health Project has
been funded by World Vision Australia.